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Today it is time for an outfit post, which in reality contains a smattering of two weeks outfits. I always say to myself, yep I’m going to try and take pictures every day, but in reality I never get round to it/ my hair looks terrible. Actually if I’m totally honest my hair looks terrible in most of these pictures anyway… (*note to self* must go and get fringe cut soon).

First off is this little dress. One of my fave Horrockses to wear because the cotton is so light and cool. I’ve had this dress for about two years now, and owing to its missing bolero it cost me the princely sum of £20. This is a particularly nice, fully lined dress, and i think it might have started off life full length. Although for me it is much more wearable at the length it is now. I’ve worn it here with my trusty Miss L Fire shoes (as you can see from the rest of my pictures I live in Miss L Fire‘s/ Vans at the moment). This was also the last day I still had my glastonbury wristband on. *sob*. Memories.

My next outfit came from a few days later. Again with the miss L Fires, and the first day of terrible terrible “humidity hair”. The dress is a 1970s number, it is a Rose for Radley dress and came from the ever wonderful Liz Eggleston of Vintage-A-Peel. If i’m feeling brave I may soon post a pic of the swimsuit I purchased from her too.

Next off in my string of summer dresses was this lovely blue number that came from Rainbow valley vintage. I’d intended selling this dress on, but it seems to fit me better than it did last summer and managed to creep back into my wardrobe. Worn with another pair of Miss L Fire’s that have a fabulous bow on the back. I really do love Miss L Fire shoes for their ability to accomodate my fat yet childishly small feet.

Then came this pretty little dress, which is actually far too tight for me. It’s late 1950s American (junior miss size), an ebay purchase some years back I decided that the blue check was a bit too plain for me and jazzed it up with a Tatty Devine necklace and a hot pink belt that came via a charity shop for the princely sum of 20p.

These were the nails I was rocking for the enitrety of last week. Combo of Barry M, Rimmel AND Models Own nail polish

After I got to this point in my photo taking. I realised WAIT A SECOND. Every dress is blue, I honestly think I have a problem with wearing blue dresses, as in this time period I wore a further two 1950s blue dresses. I don’t even like blue that much as a colour….

So after that revelation on wednesday I dug out a GREEN dress from my wardrobe. I purchased this last year at the festival of vintage in York and it is by Blanes. One of my favourite labels. The toile de jouy print on this is quite subtle and incredibly elegant.

And finally my outfit of choice from yesterday. In the morning i went cycling (I give this as an excuse for my lack of make up) and had to wear something that wouldn’t get caught in my bike wheels (Ah. Vintage girl problems i think we might say). The shirt is 1970s by John Craig, purchased from Clobber in Bournemouth and the shorts are a fabulous shipping flag print by Sportaville and came to me via ebay. One of my colleagues at work yesterday afternoon was particularly amused by them. You can “read” the shorts in their full glory in this post.

Has everyone else been enjoying the hot weather with summe suitable outfits?

So, The latest acquisition to my vintage collection is this COMPLETELY crazy novelty print skirt. O.k. so it is a bit immature, but that kind of makes me love it more.

The skirt is by the brand Sportaville, and I actually have a number of pieces by this brand (5 skirts and a pair of shorts if memory serves me correctly). But this is one of those brands that I know almost nothing about, yet I am completely intrigued by. I have trawled the internet on numerous occasions trying to find out more about the brand and have come up with almost nothing, bar details on a seemingly unrelated company that started in the 1980s. The quality of their garments is fantastic though, and each of the pieces I have had has been fantastically made, suggesting to me that these were expensive pieces in there day. Not only that Sportaville garments seem to use some of the wackiest most imaginative prints I have seen. All of the garments in my collection certainly are a bit mad, and any I’ve seen but not managed to acquire have been equally crazy (wine labels, records, galleon ships and townscapes are amongst some of the themes)

My fist sportaville skirt bought for the princely sum of £5 if memory serves me correctly way back in 2007 or 2008 it has “confetti” by Sportaville printed around the hem too

My Sportaville shorts. These provide a great talking point when drunk as they are covered in shipping signals. I always find it hilarious to read my shorts to people. The best one to say when drunk though has to be “I have sprung a leak and require immediate assistance”. Ho ho ho.

What i find even MORE intriguing is that they seem to have been using some of the same fabrics as Blanes. This skirt sold by tasty vintage features the IDENTICAL print to a Blanes dress from my collection. The description of the fabric suggests that even this was the same. Now, the question is, where the two companies related, or as i think is more likely did one copy the others prints?

So, do you know anything more about Sportaville? If so please do get in contact, I am totally fascinated by the brand and would love a bit more information about who was designing these fabulous prints.

It is now just over a week until I get to talk about my passion for the 50’s at Winchester fashion week!

This is the blurb for my talkThe Fabulous Fifties: Frocks and Florals Lecture by Liz Tregenza 16:00-17:00 @ Winchester Discovery CentreThe 1950s was a period of great cultural and social change. Britain was leaving behind the austerities and restrictions of World War Two and people were embracing a more positive future. But what did this all mean for fashion? Come and find out about the fashions of every day people and the influence of couture and be taken through a wonderful journey of full skirts, florals and frivolity. There will also be the opportunity to see some examples of 50s costume and accessories from Liz’s personal collection. - Tickets for this event will cost £3. To book please call Winchester Discovery Centre on 01962 873603

There are many other fabbity fab events happening over the week too which I highly recommend anyone in the Winchester area to check out.